Met up in Waimanalo for somebody’s birthday hike. Only somebody was missing. The birthday girl. The hike must go on. Photo by Colt Correa.

Waimanalo

Thanks to Matt for driving Aida, Enrique, Lilyn, Ryan and myself to Colt’s ranch where we started to walk to the trailhead. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Waimanalo

We skirted the surprisingly graffiti free water tank and failed to receive the BOWS morning wake up call.

Waimanalo

Crossing over a rock wall that was of undetermined age. Carbon dating seems to be in order.

Waimanalo

Looking for the snap, crackle and pop under canopy as we rambled in the forest.

Right Fork

Ryan climbing up the spur ridge known as Bear Claw Right Fork.

Right Fork

Aida following Colt up the rocky ridge line. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Right Fork

Matt pushing his way through the tangled thicket of trees to get the drone advantage position.

Right Fork

Enrique and Aida making their way up the ridge line. Drone photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Right Fork

Colt climbing up the steepest section on this fork. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Right Fork

The group climbing up the steep ridge. Drone photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Colt standing on the mushroom rock as we left the canopied section of the right fork behind us. Drone photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Matt climbing his way up the main ridge line.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

The girls scrambling up the exposed ridge.

Halftime

What’s the score?

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Somebody forgot to tell Matt that this is the Aloha State and not the Show Me State.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

The weather was extremely kind to us on this hike with overcast clouds and enough wind to keep us separated from perspiration to profusely sweating.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Vans was not made for slippery slopes.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Almost there. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Drone photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Somebody didn’t need spikes to get to the top.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Flyover. No permission needed. Drone photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Group photo at the terminus with the plaque that honors the late Lesley Merrell who perished on this very ridge on March 18, 2012. “One day you’ll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember.” – avicii.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

The eagle has landed. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Somebody finally climbed the ridge he had always seen afar from his backyard. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Ko’olau Summit Ridge Trail (KSRT)

East or West? Nobody can decide on an empty stomach, so we found a sheltered spot to hunker down and grab a bite to eat and then decide.

KSRT

Ryan was looking for a square to spare.

KSRT

After we sung the birthday song to the absent birthday person and in different tones to boot, I gave away the chocolate sundate cupcake that I had toiled hours away on my Easy-Bake Oven to make. Happy Birthday Roseann! The boys sure appreciated my confectionary creation.

KSRT

To valley or not to valley? We’ll be back. No Austrian accent involved. Photo by Ryan Meyer.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Somebody else was the human anchor for a change as we went back down the windward ridge. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Lilyn climbing her way down from the summit. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

The three amigos signaling that they were going to go down Kuli’ou’ou East. I wouldn’t know as I didn’t learn ASL. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Going down with wrap around views of Waimanalo all around us. Eye candy. Photo by Matt Vidaurri.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

Colt coming down the same section where Leslie Merrell tragically lost his life ten years ago.

Pu’u O Kona Windward

The group disappearing back into the canopy. Photo by Aida Gordon.

Left Fork

Matt walking through the feathery patch of ferns on the spur ridge known as Bear Claw Left Fork.

Left Fork

Lilyn climbing her way down the rockface.

Left Fork

Colt making his way down the “hardest” section on this fork.

Left Fork

Matt coming down the “piped” section.

Left Fork

Boys will be boys.

Left Fork

Matchy-Matchy. Photo by Lilyn Avendano.

Left Fork

Matt enjoying the rope slide down.

All pau

We came down the trail and finally got our canned BOWS recording. A day late and a dollar short. As we exited Hilltop Ranch, we ran into Bob Tyson and talked story for a little awhile before walking back to Matt’s truck. Aida, Enrique and Ryan also caught an uber back to the truck to meet up with us. Perfect timing.

GPS Tracks

Our Waimanalo loop hike covered roughly three miles with a fun group. Post hike meal at Big City Diner where we caught the climatic conclusion to the Chiefs-Bills game.

Video by Matt Vidaurri of our Bear Claw Loop Hike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUBrr9RZgzk

Note: I have been made aware that some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Met up with Chris, Justin, Ryan and Thessa to loop the Bear Claw ridges. Many thanks to Bob for letting us park at the ranch. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Trailhead

No canned messages greeted us this morning.

Trailhead

We didn’t run across any HECO workers as well.

Left Fork

The climbing begins. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Left Fork

Making my way up the pipe section. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Left Fork

Hello there.

Left Fork

Ryan scrambling up. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Left Fork

Those trees sure do come in handy.

Junction

Left meets Right. Panoramic view from the top.

Bear Claw Ridge

Mushroom rock. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Bear Claw Ridge

Straight to the summit.

Bear Claw Ridge

To the left, to the right, now kick, hike it by yourself. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Bear Claw Ridge

Group photo by Justin Hirako, top to bottom: Ryan, Chris, myself, Thessa and Justin.

Bear Claw Ridge

Ryan about to climb a section, where another long respected hiker fell to his death.

Bear Claw Ridge

Ryan at the top of the section. We still have to do something about the constant selfie problem on the ridges.

Bear Claw Ridge

Ryan coming over the ridge.

Bear Claw Ridge

Trying to outrace the clouds.

Bear Claw Ridge

Almost there.

Bear Claw Ridge

Climbing to the summit. Photo by Thessa Bugay.

Bear Claw Summit

Memorial to Les Merrell whose life was tragically cut short on this ridge.

Bear Claw Summit

Group photo by Justin Hirako.

Bear Claw Ridge

Going back down the ridge to spoon the other fork. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Bear Claw Ridge

The crew making their way down the somewhat steep section of the ridge.

Bear Claw Ridge

Okay, how do I get down? Photo by Justin Hirako.

Bear Claw Ridge

Contouring and climbing the ridge on our way down.

Bear Claw Ridge

Hikers, Ryan and Thessa, spotted on the ridge. Photo by Jake Kunuku.

Junction

Enjoying the views and the company. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Right Fork

Top view. Photo by Ryan Leano.

Right Fork

Bottom view.

Right Fork

Chris about to climb down and swing over.

Right Fork

Thessa making her way down.

Right Fork

Ryan dropping down the ridge. Photo by Justin Hirako.

Right Fork

The rest of the ridge down was marked by heavy overgrowth and rocky sections.

Waimanalo

Hear that? That’s the Doberman dogs that Bob warned us about. So what’s the plan? Photo by Justin Hirako.

Who let the dogs out?

We came down from the mountain and of all the places that we could cross, was the farm that the dogs called home. One of them came right up to me. Nice doggy. Hey, where did everybody go? Luckily the owner was on site and had the dogs under control. No rabies shot for me.

All pau

Beers in a cooler. Thanks Bob. Cars still intact. Thanks Bob. What more could one ask for after a hike?

GPS Tracks

Our 2.8 mile loop hike was filled with stellar views, rocky climbs and good fun all around. Post hike meal at Outback’s. Seems they always seat us at the same table. Perhaps this is where they put smelly and disheveled people that pass themselves off as hikers?

Note: I have been made aware the some hikers have been using my blog as a hiking guide and getting lost on the trails. Please note that this blog was made to document the hike for the crew(s) that did it. That is why some of my comments will seem to have no relevance or meaning to anybody outside of the crew(s) that hiked that trail. My blog was never meant as a hiking guide, so please do not treat it as such. If you find inspiration and entertainment from these hikes, that is more than enough. If you plan on replicating these hikes, do so in the knowledge that you should do your own research accordingly as trail conditions, access, legalities and so forth are constantly in flux. What was current today is most likely yesterdays news. Please be prepared to accept any risks and responsibilities on your own as you should know your own limitations, experience and abilities before you even set foot on a trail, as even the “simplest” or “easiest” of trails can present potential pitfalls for even the most “experienced” hikers.

Glenn and I had the chance to tag along with Marcus and his extreme hiker crew consisting of Scott, Matt, Jay, Shelly, KiLei, and Aaron today to tackle Bear Claw Left Fork. We all met at the end of Kalaau Place in Kuliouou Valley and piled into Scott’s truck, where we drove to Waimanalo and parked off of Waikupahana Street by a ranch, with the manager’s permission. Our group of nine hikers pushed off around 8:40am as we made our way past two gates and a water tank.

Cardio Hill

The trailhead was surprisingly well ribbonned for a supposedly unsanctioned trail. Right off the bat, we were steadily pushing ourselves up the hill, I was already breaking a sweat this early in the hike. Good morning Bear Claw!

Rockface #1

We came upon the first rockface that has two metal spikes pounded into the rocks and ropes. Under Marcus’s guidance, he instructed us to use the bottom spike as a foothold and the top spike as a handhold and work our way up to the top, where Scott and Matt were acting as spotters.

Rockface #2

The second rockface can either be climbed straight up if one’s climbing skills are solid or contoured to the left where there are some blue webbing that made it a little easier to get up.

Formosa Koa Trees

This tangled thicket of koa trees that we had to climb under, over and to the sides would stay with us until we got to the junction where the two ridges or forks meet.

Left meets Right

Passing the junction where the left fork meets the right fork and continues up a single ridge to the summit. Marcus informed me the right fork is a tad harder and steeper than the left fork coming up. I was glad to finally get out on the open ridge as the tradewinds started to cool us down, as it was hot and humid coming up the left fork. 

Mushroom Rock

As we made our way along the ridge, there was a mushroom shaped rock that we had to climb over. I never get tired of seeing all these different types of rock formations on the trails.

Dike section

Glenn and Marcus coming over a narrow dike section.

Some climbing involved

Jay climbing up the ridge.

Proceed with caution

Scott and KiLei look at the spot where Leslie Merrell fell back in March. The area above their heads is where the boulder that he was holding onto came loose, resulting in his tragic fall. A somber reminder that rocks on these trails are very brittle and loose.

HFD Helicopter

We soon noticed that a HFD yellow helicopter was making repeated passes over our heads, pilot probably muttering “darn hikers on unsanctioned trails.”

You can contour to the left...

There was this somewhat daunting rock formation on the ridge that you can either contour to the left, or if you want a little challenge…

...or go over the top

…you can do what Matt did, and just climb over the rock to regain the ridge.

Bear Claw Ridge

This hike had a little bit of everything to keep it interesting and challenging – nice cardio climb, narrow dikes and ridges, some rock climbing and most of all, spectacular views that money can’t buy.

Final dirt push to the summit

As we were scrambling up the last 30-50 feet of dirt and grass before the summit, the HFD helicopter came back and started hovering 10 feet above Scott who was in the lead. Talk about a Kodak moment! The helicopter was so close, I could almost see the color of the pilot’s eyes, he stayed for about 10-20 seconds before peeling off.

Made it to the top

We made the summit of Bear Claw at around 11:30am. It took us about 3 hours to hike less than a mile going up, but we gained over 2,000 feet in elevation.

Group photo at the summit

Everybody making the left claw pose for the camera.

Panoramic view from the top of Bear Claw

Click here for the larger image.

Headed towards Puu O Kona

After a short break, the group with the exception of Aaron who went down the Kuliouou trail, decided to continue on towards Puu O Kona.

Windward Panoramic view from Puu O Kona

Click here for the larger image of the Windward side as seen from the top of Puu O Kona.

Leeward Panoramic View from Puu O Kona

Click here for the larger image of the town side as seen from the top of Puu O Kona.

Headed down into Kuliouou Valley

It was a brisk descent going down into Kuliouou Valley as we got back to our cars around 1:30pm. It was a great experience hiking with Marcus’s crew as it showed that I needed to work a little more on my cardio and climbing skills so that I can keep up on future hikes with his crew.